By: Cat Ebeling, RN, MSN-PHN, co-author of the best-sellers:  The Fat Burning Kitchen, The Top 101 Foods that Fight Aging & The Diabetes Fix

If you’ve ever seen dragon fruit in the store, it would certainly catch your eye! It looks almost like it came from another planet, it’s so wild looking. Dragon fruit comes from tropical areas of the world and grows on a particular type of cactus called Pitahaya, as it’s called in Mexico.

Dragon fruit is truly quite delicious and comes in different colors—white, pink, or deep reddish-purple. Inside the rich, juicy flesh are tiny black crunchy seeds. The little black seeds are full of healthy omega 3 fatty acids.

My favorite type of dragon fruit here in Sonora, Mexico is the deep red-purple dragon fruit. This rich deep color contains the highest levels of the antioxidants. I had the opportunity to visit a local dragon fruit farm and sample fresh dragon fruit in the form of dragon fruit cocktails and sorbet. Dragon fruit has a taste a little like kiwi, and is absolutely delicious.

Dragon fruit, as you may imagine, contains several amazing health benefits including antioxidants, slowing down aging, enhancing immune function and improving blood sugar levels. The fruit is enriched with several powerful phytochemical substances that have pharmacological properties. Some newly explored therapeutic applications include its use as an antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anticancer, and nutraceutical.

Recently this exotic fruit has been gaining in popularity and you may see it showing up in your health food store and as an ingredient in smoothies and energy drinks. Even Starbucks has a drink that combines dragon fruit with green coffee bean extract and other fruit juices.

What makes this unique fruit worth eating?

Antioxidants that Boost Immune Function, Fight Cancer, and Slow Aging

Like many colorful fruits, dragon fruit contains a lot of powerful antioxidants—especially the deep pink/purple types. Dragon fruit has flavonoids and vitamin C, making it great for fighting cold, flu and other infections.

Dragon fruit contains antioxidants betacyanins and betaxanthins. These beneficial compounds neutralize free radicals in the body that can cause cell damage, disease and accelerated aging.

According to the World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, the antioxidant activity of dragon fruit is also very helpful to prevent inflammatory conditions in the body, including gout, arthritis, heart disease and some autoimmune diseases.

Dragon fruit also contains vitamins B1, B2 and B3, and calcium, phosphorous, iron, protein, niacin and fiber, all of which keep your body in balance and working at optimal levels.

Antioxidants also help preserve skin health as well. Antioxidants help protect the underlying structures of the skin, keeping it firm, fighting off sun damage and other environmental damage.

Dragon fruit’s antioxidants also help to protect the cells’ DNA and prevent colon cancer.

Dragon fruit also contains phosphorus. Phosphorus is an important mineral found in every cell of the body. One of the main functions of phosphorus is protecting the integrity of the bones and teeth. Phosphorus also helps the body metabolize carbohydrates and fats, and synthesizing protein for growth and repair of healthy cells and tissues. And—phosphorus helps the body make ATP which increases energy in the cells.

Digestion and Gut Health

I’m sure you all know that fiber is good for digestion and that fruits and veggies are full of healthy fiber. Dragon fruit is a very tasty way to load up on fiber, helping keep you regular.

Dragon fruit also contains oligosaccharides which work as prebiotics. Prebiotics help promote the growth of your healthy gut bacteria. Keeping your gut bacteria healthy and well fed contributes to overall health, and happy, healthy moods as well.

Gut bacteria is responsible for creating 90% or so of the serotonin (a brain chemical) in the body. Serotonin helps you feel happy and relaxed.

Dragon fruit specifically helps with the growth of two types of healthy bacteria: lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria.

In addition, dragon fruit also contains some diuretic properties, which help your body eliminate excess fluids.

Blood Sugar Control

Besides helping your gut bacteria, the fiber from dragon fruit also helps to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Previous studies showed that dragon fruit encouraged the growth of new pancreatic cells that produce insulin.

A meta-analysis from the journal PLOS ONE looked at the effects of dragon fruit on blood sugar with people who had type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. The analysis compared multiple clinical trials, looking at fasting glucose levels. The effects on fasting glucose were significant—especially in those with prediabetes. It was also found that the more dragon fruit eaten, the greater the blood sugar benefits.

Other studies have shown that dragon fruit helps to reduce oxidative stress, which also prevents some of the complications associated with diabetes, as well as reducing risk of developing diabetes.

Fights Cancer

Dragon fruit’s antioxidants, including phytoalbumin, vitamin C and lycopene help fight cancer by neutralizing free radicals and protecting cells from dangerous mutations. Lycopene, a known antioxidant which is also found in tomatoes is especially effective against cancer, especially prostate cancer.

Another study published in Nutrition and Cancer journal, showed that treating ovarian cancer cells with lycopene stopped the growth and spread of cancer cells. And this study showed some powerful activity of a dragon fruit compound slowing growth and reproduction on breast cancer cells. Scientists at the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) were able to kill lung cancer cells in vitro, by an extraction from the dragon fruit.

All of these findings indicate the power of dragon fruit’s ability to fight cancer. Some scientists feel that extracts of dragon fruit may one day be used as a cancer-fighting compound.

Delicious to Eat

Dragon fruit has a sweet, smooth taste that is very palatable and works well in many different types of dishes and drinks. You can try dragon fruit in:

• Smoothies
• Cocktails
• Desserts
• Salads

If you can’t find dragon fruit in your local supermarket, you may have better luck in a specialty food store or Asian market. Fresh dragon fruit is a little harder to find, but you want to look for one that is bright red or deep pink colored.

Dragon fruit should be slightly soft when you’re testing it with your finger. If it’s overly firm, you can still bring it home and leave it on your counter to ripen.

Peel and cut it into sections when you’re ready to eat it. Like avocados, you should eat the flesh and discard the tough outer skin. You can also cut the fruit in half and scoop out the flesh with a spoon or melon baller. Dragon fruit is found frozen in the frozen fruit section at your grocery store as well.

References
Photos courtesy Greg Hovey Dragon Fruit Farm “Rancho Pitahaya”, San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico.
https://draxe.com/nutrition/dragon-fruit-benefits/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324655#add-to-the-diet
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/dragon-fruit-benefits
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/get-to-know-the-incredible-edible-dragon-fruit/

The post What is Dragon Fruit and Should I Eat It? appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

Today’s blog is republished from my friends at TheAlternativeDaily, a leading publisher of daily alternative health tips that I personally read every day…

By Katherine Marko, TheAlternativeDaily.com

Even the best “high quality” dark roasts can make an acidic cup of coffee, though cheaper blends are notorious for being overly acidic. And acid can be hard on a sensitive stomach, particularly if you enjoy more than one cup of coffee a day. So how does baking soda improve an acidic cup of Joe?

Even the best coffee beans produce acid

Beyond using it as a natural cleaning agent to remove stains for your coffee pot, some believe that baking soda can actually improve the taste of coffee. It’s no secret that coffee can be a tad acidic. But for many, giving up their morning cup of coffee is not an option. And truthfully, with science continuing to study coffee and the many benefits it provides, it’s easy to see why coffee lovers would never want to give up their morning cup of brew. Yet, if drinking coffee is contributing to excess stomach acid and causing you digestive upset, then you’re probably thinking you’d be better off without. Think again.

According to Harvard Health, coffee drinking is associated with a lower risk of depression among women, a lower risk of fatal prostate cancer among men, and a lower risk of stroke among both men and women. Human and animal studies show some protection against Alzheimer’s disease and a lower risk for some cancers like estrogen-negative breast cancer.

Coffee is fairly acidic on a pH scale

Acidity is something that’s measured on the pH scale, which uses 7.0 as an indicator of neutrality. So, numbers under seven as are naturally more acidic than numbers above seven. For instance, according to Science Buddies, battery acid is zero. Clearly, that’s highly acidic. Lemon juice registers at about two, and black coffee registers at a pH of about five. But rather than kicking your “acidic” coffee habit — and there are clearly good reasons to keep drinking coffee — why not neutralize the acid in your brew?

Helps neutralize an acidic cup of coffee

In water, baking soda is mildly alkaline and can be used to neutralize acid. That’s why, when it dissolves in water, it works well as a natural antacid remedy. Its alkalinity is also why it makes a great deodorizer — by countering slightly acidic scent molecules. On the pH scale baking soda registers as a nine.

That means by simply adding a little baking soda to your coffee you could neutralize the acid to avoid stomach upset. There’s two way you can do that. You can add about a quarter teaspoon to your coffee beans for a pot of coffee, or you can add just a pinch (small pinch) to your cup of coffee.

Helps acid reflux or GERD

Both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee exacerbate gastroesophageal reflux according to a German study. However, coffee creates more reflux than simply caffeine added to water. This suggests that other components of coffee contribute to acid reflux. A small pinch of baking soda can help counteract acid reflux.

May help relieve gout

Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis, according to the Arthritis Foundation. It develops in some people who have high levels of uric acid in the blood. The acid can form painful needle-like crystals in a joint and cause severe episodes of pain, tenderness, redness, warmth and swelling.

Due to baking soda’s pH neutralizing effects, it may help lower uric acid levels. According to GoutDiet.org baking soda introduced to the blood alkalinizes it, causing the uric acid structures to break up. Then, they can easily filter out the kidneys and expel through the urine. Add a pinch to your coffee or more as needed.

If you suffer from ulcers, baking soda can help

Since baking soda neutralizes stomach acid, it can help make coffee drinking more bearable if you suffer from a stomach ulcer. Add a quarter to a half teaspoon to your coffee grounds.

Let’s break down baking soda

While most of us often keep a box baking soda in the house for baking, as a deodorizer for the fridge, or as a natural cleaning alternative (and now for neutralizing acidic coffee), some still aren’t sure what exactly baking soda is. So, let’s break it down.

Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a chemical salt that occurs naturally as the mineral nahcolite. This is a soft, colorless or white carbonate mineral. Nahcolite was first described in 1928 when it was found in a lava tunnel at Mount Vesuvius, Italy. NaHCO3, as it’s known chemically, contains sodium (NA), hydrogen (H) and carbonate (CO).

Baking soda in North America

So, where does America get its baking soda from? Well, most baking soda in the U.S. comes from Green River, Wyoming. According to Arm & Hammer, the baking soda from Green River is mined from trona ore. Trona deposits were molded over four million years ago after the evaporation of great salt lakes in Wyoming. Trona also comes from Kenya, Egypt, Venezuela and the deserts of Central Asia. After it’s mined, it’s heated to make soda ash, which is then dissolved in water. When carbon dioxide bubbles under pressure through the solution, sodium bicarbonate is formed.

Side effects of baking soda

Now that you know all about baking soda, let’s talk about how to use it properly. Although larger quantities of baking soda have been used to remedy indigestion, in much the same way antacids are used, you can still go overboard and risk side effects. Drinking baking soda is like drinking salt water. It’s extremely high in sodium and will raise your blood pressure. And too much sodium is linked to kidney and heart issues in healthy people.

And of course, too much baking soda in your coffee can leave you with a less than tasty cup that leaves you with a soapy taste in your mouth. Generally, to reduce the acidic nature of coffee, just a small pinch is all you need. Enjoy!

Speaking of baking soda…

My friend Susan Patterson wrote an entire book called The Baking Soda Secret, and she wants to ship it to you for FREE!

* How to use Baking Soda as a natural replacement for many products currently in your home like deodorant, toothpaste and even cleaning products.

* The exact recipe she uses to make healthy, energy-filled meals.

* How to soothe skin irritated by eczema, bug bites, bee stings and more.

* A powerful flu-fighting tonic that can help banish symptoms in hours.

* Countless beauty hacks including a hair rinse, face mask, and dark spot remover.

All of this and so much more!

But, like I said, you have to hurry because she only has a handful of these left and if you don’t confirm your address your book will be sent to another lucky individual who will immediately start improving their physical, mental and home health with Baking Soda!

Click here to Claim your FREE Book Now (need shipping address)

The Death of Black Coffee:

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This coffee trick takes less than 10 seconds…

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Here’s to an amazing start to your day 🙂

====> Try This 10 Sec Fat-Burning Coffee Trick!

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